Drainpipe cleaning apparatus



March 2, 1965 H. M. GRAY 3,171,150

DRAINPIPE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1963 INVENTOR. HUBEAT M. GRAY audi M 4 TTOEIVE United States Patent Office 3,171,150 Patented Mar. 2, 1965 3,171,150 DRAINPIPE CLEANING APPARATUS Hubert M. Gray, 136 Read Ave, Tuckahoe, NY. Filed May 22, 1963, Ser. No. 282,411 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-10412) This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning drain pipes such as sewage pipes.

It is well known that roots of trees often enter sewage pipes through breaks or joints in the pipes, or clog or stop up the passage therethrough.

This invention has for its salient object to provide apparatus for clearing the passage through clogged pipes by cutting roots or clogged material and so treating the roots as to prevent regrowth thereof.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with drawing which illustrates the apparatus embodying the invention.

In the drawing there are shown a tank or boiler for the steam having an inlet conduit 11, a safety valve 12, a pressure gauge 13, and an outlet conduit 14, controlled by a valve 15. The tank 10 also has an overflow conduit 16.

The conduit 14 has connected thereto a flexible hose or pipe 20 on the outer end of which is placed a cap 21 dimensioned to fit over the end of the drain or sewer pipe 22. The cap 21 has extending therethrough a pipe 23 for venting the steam in case of a flow back into pipe 22 due to clogging thereof. The end of pipe 20 has mounted thereon a steam turbine 25 of any suitable construction and the driven shaft 26 of the turbine is connected through universal joint 27 to a cutter unit 28 suitably constructed to cut the roots R. These roots as shown have penetrated the pipes through the pipe joints or through cracks therein and clogged the passage through the pipe.

The steam S escapes through vents 29 at the front of the turbine unit and the hot steam causes the roots to shrivel thereby effectively preventing regrowth thereof.

When the unit is in place for operation the tank or boiler 10 is filled with water to the proper working level by providing for approximately two inches of steam space. The water is then heated by a suitable heating element 30 and when the steam pressure has reached the desired point the outlet valve is opened and steam passes through the hose and energizes the steam turbine causing the shaft 26 to rotate and also rotating the cutter connected thereto. This will effectively cut the roots R and the steam escaping through vents 29 will cause the roots to shrivel thereby effectively preventing regrowth thereof. In case of a flow back of the steam due to stoppage in the pipe the steam will be vented through the cap 21 and vent pipe 23.

In order to flush the pipe water may be introduced through the conduit 23 and also in order to clean oil and grease solvents may be introduced through the cap without danger of explosion.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described it will be understood that change in construction and parts of the apparatus may be-made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed by the following claim.

I claim:

Apparatus for cleaning a pipe comprising a source of steam, at flexible conduit, a valve between said source of steam and said conduit for regulating the passage of steam from said source to and through said conduit, a cap adapted to fit over the end of a pipe which is to be cleaned by said apparatus, said cap including a first generally centrally axially disposed opening slidably receiving said conduit and a second opening beneath said first opening, a vent pipe received in said second opening whereby excess stem, condensate and cut vegetable matter in the bottom portion of the pipe passes freely outwardly thereof, a steam turbine connected to said conduit beyond said cap relative to said source of steam, said turbine having a plurality of vents in fluid communication with the interior of the turbine for directing the steam from the turbine interior against vegetable matter in the pipe, said turbine further including a rotatable output shaft projecting beyond said vents, and a universal joint connecting said shaft to a cutter whereby vegetable matter in the pipe is cut by said cutter and thereafter scalcled by steam from the plurality of vents to prevent the regrowth thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 841,917 Assen et al. Jan. 22, 1907 940,150 Hauer Nov. 16, 1909 949,637 Stormer Feb. 15, 1910 1,047,939 Harsen Dec. 24, 1912 1,383,291 Divirglio July 5, 1921 1,547,440 Penn July 28, 1925 2,232,018 Wright Feb. 18, 1941 2,733,767 Sappington Feb. 7, 1956 

